I write about people, cars, culture and art. What I’ve discovered is that you learn a lot about people by the way they talk about both the material and the sublime. I launched the cultural car site Gotryke.com to investigate that premise — the art of mobility. I've written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Delta Sky, Vibe Magazine, and Forbes Autos. For the back story and clips check out www.tamarawarren.com. Follow me on Twitter at @Tamaratam.

Senna Film Review: The Life Of A Formula One Driver

The genius of the new documentary film Senna is not in the retelling of the heart breaking tale of a 34-year old man killed at the height of his success. That’s the story that’s been told in news reports — how three-time F1 World Champion Ayrton Senna was leading the San Marino Grand Prix in May 1994, when an ill-fated turn of his Williams-Renault open-wheel car resulted in his untimely death. What stands out in “Senna” is a fully developed portrait of the Brazilian man who was perhaps Formula One’s best driver of all time, a driver who managed to succeed on his own terms, waving his country’s flag at every opportunity.

What makes this film especially compelling is the flawless editing orchestrated by director Asif Kapadia. Together with screenplay writer Manish Pandey, they integrate endless hours of archival footage to construct a narrative that resonates and never breaks away from the momentum essential to the sport of driving — and mimics Senna’s relentless racing style.

Here is Senna’s racing life on camera, beginning with his days as a child go-kart racer, working his way up the ladder of Formula One to Lotus-Renault, finding unparalleled success at Mclaren-Honda and ultimately moving to Williams-Renault. The technical components of the sport are captured in track footage, but never in an overt manner that becomes tedious. Fans and F1 novices are able to follow along, and marvel at the technical skill required of great drivers at work. While the complex and political nature of F1 and it’s odd set of rules can be daunting, the film captures enough of the pomp and circumstance to indicate what really goes on behind the scenes in big money racing.

The tightly constructed screenplay and subtle use of voice over dialogue from Senna’s sister, doctor and team members present Senna as a full character, who matures in a short time from a determined newcomer to a crowned world champ, and ultimately to a skeptical, but resolute young veteran. His full range of characteristics include ambitious, vulnerable, competitive, altruistic sides. At times, his resolve to win at the wheel caused him problems, when he stubbornly forged ahead to his own demise in high pressure situations. This quality cost him races and the stature he deserved in F1 circles for several years. But in fairness to Senna, the F1 leaders are portrayed as ruthless and unyielding, particularly the French president of the FIA, Jean-Marie Balestre, who seemed to have it out for Senna. In interviews, Senna banters with teammate and arch rival Prost, much like a boxer trash talking at weigh in. The interplay between the two is entertaining and well developed — quite a feat to be pulled together from track side interviews. He is shown with flaws, but his imperfections strengthen the realism of the film and the sympathy for his character. Despite his stand offs, Senna ultimately comes across as noble, and never succumbs to the demands of authority.

What is always apparent in the film is Senna’s raw ability. In his red McLaren-Honda F1 car he darts in and out, passing cars before they can absorb what has happened. Music contributes to the pace — ranging from Brazilian bossanova rhythms, percussive hand drums, guitar licks and ambient effects, building drama during race scenes, and capturing the cosmopolitan worldly cool of Formula One.

Ultimately, Senna manages to enchant and leave a mark on the sport and fans around the world that is all too evident in the editing. In Brazil, he was a hero, giving the masses hope, in a time of massive poverty. He was born into a well-to-do family, but chose to emphasize his Brazilian roots rather than identify as an elitist. The collective grief demonstrated at his funeral and the streets of Brazil are testament to his stature in that society. He was destined for a long fruitful career in driving and community service that was cut short.

It’s refreshing that there are no talking heads in this feature-length documentary– instead Ayrton Senna is captured in grainy 1980s video interviews, at press stunts in Brazil and on intimate family vacations on boats outside of his home in Sao Paulo. It helps that Senna has that riveting star quality, that cameras gravitate toward, reminiscent of footage of Jean Michel Basquiat in the recent film “Radiant Child.” Senna has deep brown doe eyes, a smattering of freckles, wavy brown hair and an infectious boyish grin. The footage frequently shows the camera zooming into the depth of his eyes. It’s all too clear he enchanted women and men fans alike, as spectators and journalists swoon in his presence on camera, and he dutifully flirts back. For a race car driver, he seems taller and lanky, especially standing next to the more slight Prost, who lack Senna’s suave mannerisms. Even two decades later, Senna is full of life and zest for his sport on camera, invoking the spiritual side of racing, despite the vintage nature of the footage.

The added drama about the questionable circumstances of his death — namely a car that was not safe enough to be on the road —add a universal theme, about how power and money corrupt, and can destroy when left unchecked.This is true in F1, but is analogous to recent issues in baseball, track and field and cycling.

When Senna dies, the audience is left with an aching hole, a sense of the loss faced, of the regrets. His death set a precedent for safety initiatives that have since spared F1 drivers from fatalities. In the New York theater I saw the film in, I could hear the sniffles of middle-aged men as the credits began to roll, and the imagery of Senna faded away. Parting shots of Senna’s declaration for love of pure racing capture the essence of motor sports, dating back to his feisty go-cart purist days, and evoke the integrity he brought to Formula One as a devoted competitor.

Post Your Comment

Post Your Reply

Forbes writers have the ability to call out member comments they find particularly interesting. Called-out comments are highlighted across the Forbes network. You'll be notified if your comment is called out.

I have read more than one articles about electric versus gasoline go karts since my activity is closed to this domain. I come up to conclusion that gasoline is much better choice than electric devices. Sorry for not being in accordance with you but i have strong arguments. As I know electric go karts cost twice as much, weigh twice as much, spend 1.5 minutes on the charger for every minute they run on the track, are no faster than gasoline powered karts, and you need twice as many of them to do the same amount of work go kart sale as gasoline powered go karts because of the charging requirements of electric karts.

For example, “Parting shots of Senna’s declaration for love of pure racing.” You don’t call the final scenes of a film “parting shots” because a “parting shot” literally means “A final remark, usually cutting or derogatory, made just before departing.”

Almost every sentence is filled with tremendously bad ideas, errors in grammar, and errors in logic that could only have been produced by someone who doesn’t understand what’s happening.